William Arthur Haines was a rope runner at Market Overton Ironstone Mines before the First World War. He was born at Mountsorrel, near Leicester but in 1911 was living with his aunt and uncle William and Harriet Kettle and their three children in Market Overton. He joined the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on 29 August 1914, shortly after the war began. He went out to France on 1 March 1915, and took part in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle, Hill 60, Ypres, and the Battle of the Somme. He was killed by a bullet in the head, near Mametz on 15 July 1916 as the 110th Brigade, made up entirely of Leicestershire battalions, attacked Bazentin-le-Petit Wood. The objective was captured, but at terrible cost. William at least has a known grave, in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, near Mametz, grave VI.K.7. He left a widow and one child. He is recorded as A W Haines by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, with his initials transposed. Sadly, he is not remembered on the war memorial in Market Overton, but is on the Roll of Honour in nearby Teigh Church. It may be he was lodging at Teigh at the time he joined up or was simply a regular visitor. Teigh, however, does not claim him as one of its own and is known as Rutland's only "Thankful Village," one that did not lose any men in the First World War.

See where all our Rutland soldiers died during the Battle of the Somme on our interactive map.